In what is expected to be the last workout of his career, Animal Kingdom breezed five furlongs in 1:03 with his dedicated workmate over the uphill Polytrack surface near David Lanigan's yard in Lambourn, England June 12.
Trainer Graham Motion equipped the 2011 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner with a shadow roll for the work and will consider using the added equipment in the June 18 Queen Anne Stakes (Eng-I) at Royal Ascot, which will be Animal Kingdom's final career start. During a May 29 work at Ascot, Animal Kingdom jumped a worn patch of grass near the finish line.
Animal Kingdom is odds-on favorite with British bookmakers in the 15-horse prospective field for the Queen Anne. The second choice is Declaration of War, a group III winner for Aidan O'Brien who finished fifth in the JLT Lockinge Stakes (Eng-I) last month.
With a record of 5-5-0 from 11 starts and earnings of $8,387,500, Animal Kingdom is scheduled to enter stud this year in Australia at John Messara'a Arrowfield Stud, which owns the 5-year-old in partnership with Team Valor International. In addition to the Kentucky Derby, Animal Kingdom's career was highlighted by a win in this year's $10 million Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (UAE-I).
Animal Kingdom will stand for Aus$38,500 (about $40,000 in United States funds) when he enters stud at Arrowfield in September. He is to return to the U.S. for the 2014 Northern Hemisphere breeding season.
Animal Kingdom will stand at Sheikh Mohammed's Darley near Lexington.
Watch behind the scenes reflections following one of Animal Kingdom's breezes in England.
Watch jockey John Velazquez talks about how Animal Kingdom has been jogging since arriving in England.
